Ambroise said, that he was sure the young lady would think no more of it, if his honour would but be kind enough to give the recommendatory letter. 'Why, with regard to that,' said the Admiral, after some deliberation, 'I would do her any service, whereby I might shew my good will; after having been rather over-rough, be her class what it may, considering she's a female; and, moreover, seems somewhat in jeopardy; if I were not so cursedly afraid of being put upon! You, that are but an outlandish man,--though I can't say but you've as good a look as another man;--a very honest look, if one might judge by the face;--which made me take to you, without much thinking what I was about, I can tell you!--' Ambroise, bowing low, hoped that he would not repent his goodness. 'You, I say, being more in the use of being juggled, begging your pardon, from its being more the custom of foreign parts; can have no great notion, naturally, how little a British tar,--a person you don't know over-much about, I believe!' smiling, 'there not being a great many such, as I am told, off our own shores!--You, as I was remarking, can't be expected to have much notion how little a British tar relishes being over-reached. But the truth, Sir, is, we are set afloat upon the wide ocean, before we have well done with our slabbering bibs; which makes us the men we are! But, then, all we know of the world is only by bits and scraps; except, mayhap, what we can pick out of books. And that's no great matter; for the chief of a seaman's library is most commonly the history of cheats and rogues; so that we are always upon the look out, d'ye see, for fear of false colours.' Ambroise began a warm protestation of his honesty. 'Not but that, let me tell you, Sir!' the Admiral went on, 'we have as many good scholars upon quarter-deck, counting such as could pay for their learning when they were younkers, as in any other calling. But this was not the case with myself, who owe nothing to birth nor favour; whereof I am proud to be thankful; for, from ten years old, when I was turned adrift by my family, I have had little or no schooling,--except by the buffets of the world.' Then, after ruminating for some minutes, he told Ambroise that he should not be sorry to make his apologies to the gentlewoman himself; adding, 'For I could have sworn, when I first met her in the gallery, I had seen her some where before; though I could not make out how nor when. But if she's only that black madmysell washed white, I should like to have a little parley with her. She may possibly do me the service of helping me to find a friend; and if she does, I sha'n't be backward, God willing, to requite her. And harkee, my lad! I should be glad to know the gentlewoman's name. What's she called?' 'She's called Mademoiselle Juliette, Monsieur.' 'Juliet?--Are you sure of that?' cried the Admiral, starting. 'Juliet?--Are you very sure, Sir?' 'Oui, oui, Monsieur.'